You've heard there's a war on in east #Ukraine, right? Well, you know more than the UK Home Office apparently... http://t.co/ECn6jkAWgA
— Andrew Stroehlein (@astroehlein) July 31, 2014
Some more news on Russian food bans:
Russia's Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) says it will suspend Ukrainian soy, soymeal, and sunflower seed imports starting from August 1.
The Interfax news agency cited the service as saying the move was prompted by a breach of phytosanitary requirements.
Earlier today, Russia's consumer protection watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, suspended the import of Ukrainian fruit and vegetable juice, citing a lack of proper state registration.
The moves follow the latest round of Western sanctions against Russia over the crisis in Ukraine.
Russia has already banned imports of dairy products, canned vegetables, fruits, and fish from Ukraine.
Russia has also restricted imports of fruits and vegetables from Poland, and banned fruit imports from Moldova.
The European Union and the United States imposed sanctions targeting broad sectors of Russia's economy this week over its alleged support for separatists fighting government forces in eastern Ukraine.
(Interfax, Reuters)
Airport news stand... No comment. pic.twitter.com/lC8LxwiYRN
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) July 31, 2014
The thing with looking for shrapnel damage on MH17 is you tend to find stuff like this too. pic.twitter.com/Zy0BnWWgap
— Brown Moses (@Brown_Moses) July 31, 2014
Europe is finally standing up to Russia. Better late than never....
— Zbigniew Brzezinski (@zbig) July 31, 2014
Wall Street Journal: Investigators reach site of Malaysia Airlines #MH17 crash http://t.co/THqOATPdhi #Ukraine #MalaysiaAirlines
— Kyiv Post (@KyivPost) July 31, 2014
Against stupidity there is no cure: The rover is safely in #Donetsk at your friend Vladim of AnnaTV. #PuddingHead pic.twitter.com/Pl2p3jGYae
— Onlinemagazin (@OnlineMagazin) July 31, 2014
Today's support of all Government's initiatives by the constitutional majority of the Parliament is a step to unite and to save the country.
— Arseniy Yatsenyuk (@Yatsenyuk_AP) July 31, 2014
Great to hear our experts have made it to #MH17 site this afternoon after many days of obstruction.
— Paul Myler (@PosolAustralia) July 31, 2014
Some more MH17 news via RFE/RL's news desk:
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) says its monitors, accompanied by Dutch and Australian experts, have reached the crash site of a Malaysian airliner in eastern Ukraine.
The pan-European security and rights body said on Twitter that "OSCE... monitors reach MH17 crash site for first time in almost [a] week, accompanied by four Dutch, Australian experts. Used new route to access."
The team arrived at the crash site after days of fierce fighting, which had prevented them from reaching the area.
Earlier today, Ukraine's military had announced a day-long pause to its military operation against pro-Russian separatists.
Deputy Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman said Ukrainian and Russian envoys, during talks in the Belarusian capital of Minsk, agreed on July 31 to keep open the route used by the monitors.
All 298 people on board were killed when the plane came down on July 17, allegedly shot down by pro-Russian separatists.
But reports say that clashes were still taking place in the immediate vicinity of the crash site, and explosions were heard in the area.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has said there could still be as many as 80 bodies at the crash site.
(AFP, Reuters)